Arabian Knight is a title used by three fictional characters appearing in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. All three characters are superheroes from Saudi Arabia.
Publication history
Abdul Qamar first appeared in Incredible Hulk #257 (March 1981), and was created by Bill Mantlo (writer) and Al Milgrom (artist).
Fictional character biography
Abdul Qamar
Abdul Qamar, the first Arabian Knight, was a descendant of a legendary Muslim hero who had perished forcing the demons Gog and Magog back into their tomb. When the demons were later freed by an archeologist, Abdul found his ancestor's magical equipment inside the tomb, and became the Arabian Knight, once again sealing away the demons with help from the Hulk. He met Ghost Rider, and allied with him vs. the Water Wizard.
He was also one of the heroes chosen by Death to represent her in the Contest of Champions against the Grandmaster, his teammates being Iron Man and Sabra. He overcame his dislike of the Israeli heroine to win their battle against She-Hulk, Captain Britain and Defensor.
Abdul later battled the Demon of the Dunes for the life of his son.
The Arabian Knight was later revealed to be an agent of the clandestine international group The Pantheon. Posing as a member of the organization Desert Sword, he fought against Freedom Force. (it was originally stated that his children had been kidnapped by Desert Sword, who forced Abdul to work in their service). The Knight left the Pantheon following a disagreement with Achilles.
Abdul died when Humus Sapien, a powerful mutant whose abilities are powered by the random draining of life from a large number of people, drained him of his life force.
Second Knight
The second Arabian Knight was a Muslim warrior who won the right to use the magical scimitar, carpet, and armor due to trial by combat. This Arabian Knight showed up as a part of an international attempt to invade Wakanda, and was defeated by the Black Panther and Storm.
Navid Hashim - the third Arabian Knight - debuted in 2006's Union Jack (3rd series) #1. Unlike the first two Arabian Knights, the third dresses in contemporary military clothing and appears to have extensive combat experience.
When Red Hulk and Machine Man arrived in Sharzhad, they encounter Arabian Knight who leads them into Sharzhad and to Dagan Shah's palace. Once inside the palace, Dagan Shah sheds his disguise, reveals his true identity as the Sultan Magus, and imprisons Red Hulk and Machine Man as it is shown that the real Arabian Knight is imprisoned in a crystal. During Red Hulk and Machine Man's fight with Sultan Magus, Arabian Knight gets free and helps in the fight against Sultan Magus, when he manages to cut off Sultan Magus' arms (yet Sultan Magus managed to reattach his arms before resuming the fight).
Powers and abilities
The first Arabian Knight had the normal abilities of a healthy, athletic human. He was a good hand-to-hand combatant and was an exceptional swordsman, particularly in the use of the scimitar. He possesses three magical weapons: a magic carpet, a golden scimitar emitting beams of magical force, and a mind-controlled belt/sash. Indeed, all three items respond, exclusively, to his mental commands. He discovered his weapons, which had belonged to a 13th-century ancestor, in an underground tomb in the Egyptian desert. The magic carpet and sash are formed from a material that is virtually indestructible, resisting fire, and even bullets. The carpet permitted him to travel, flying, at high speeds and altitudes, while the belt/sash magically elongates to approximately 40 feet (12Â m) in length (almost 10 times its typical length), and can serve as a weapon (whip), or as a climbing rope, or to capture and restrain his foes. The golden scimitar, in addition to firing destructive blasts, will "backfire" against any other person who may attempt to wield it.
The second Arabian Knight had a magical scimitar, magic armor, and a magic carpet of his own. He apparently had nothing to do with the first or third Knight, so the origins of his magical scimitar, armor and carpet have yet to be explained.
The third Arabian Knight revealed that the flying carpet used by the first Arabian Knight was unraveled and made into an indestructible uniform that responds to his thoughts. He still uses the magic scimitar and wears the red magic sash around his waist, and the uniform serves as body armor that protects him from harm and allows him to fly.
References
External links
- Arabian Knight (Abdul Qamar) at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
- Arabian Knight (Iraqi) at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
- Arabian Knight (Abdul Qamar) at the Marvel Universe wiki
- Marvel Directory: Arabian Knight I
- Wizard Magazine: Interview with Mike Perkins, Arabian Knight III
